Image processing device, image processing method, program, and electronic device

ABSTRACT

An image processing device for detecting a skin region representing a skin of a subject from a pickup image obtained by imaging said subject, the image processing device includes: a first irradiating section; a second irradiating section; an image pickup section; an adjusting section; and a skin detecting section.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to Japanese Priority PatentApplication JP 2010-022814 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Feb. 4,2010, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present application relates to an image processing device, an imageprocessing method, a program, and an electronic device, and particularlyto an image processing device, an image processing method, a program,and an electronic device that are suitable for use in extracting a skinregion from a pickup image obtained by imaging a user, for example.

There is a skin recognition system that detects (recognizes) a skinregion representing the skin of a human from a pickup image obtained byimaging a subject (see Yasuhiro Suzuki et al., IEEJ Transactions onElectronics, Information and Systems (proposition of a near-infraredmulti-band skin detection method), Japan, 2007, Vol. 127, No. 4, forexample).

In this skin recognition system, an LED (light emitting diode) forirradiating the subject with light of a wavelength λ1 (for example anear-infrared ray of 870 [nm]) and an LED for irradiating the subjectwith light of a wavelength λ2 (for example a near-infrared ray of 950[nm]) different from the wavelength λ1 are made to emit lightalternately.

Incidentally, the combination of the wavelengths λ1 and λ2 is forexample a combination such that the reflectance when the skin of a humanis irradiated with light of the wavelength λ1 is higher than thereflectance when the skin of the human is irradiated with light of thewavelength λ2 and such that the reflectance when a thing other than theskin of a human is irradiated with light of the wavelength λ1 issubstantially the same as the reflectance when the thing is irradiatedwith light of the wavelength λ2.

In the skin recognition system, a first pickup image is picked up whenthe LED for applying light of the wavelength λ1 irradiates the subjectwith light of the wavelength λ1.

In addition, a second pickup image is picked up when the LED forapplying light of the wavelength λ2 irradiates the subject with light ofthe wavelength λ2.

Then, on the basis of the first pickup image and the second pickupimage, a skin region is detected from one of the first pickup image andthe second pickup image.

That is, as described above, a combination such that the reflectancewhen the skin of a human is irradiated with light of the wavelength λ1is higher than the reflectance when the skin of the human is irradiatedwith light of the wavelength λ2 is adopted as combination of thewavelengths λ1 and λ2.

Thus, the luminance values of pixels forming the skin region in thefirst pickup image are relatively high values, and the luminance valuesof pixels forming the skin region in the second pickup image arerelatively low values. Therefore difference values between the luminancevalues of the pixels forming the skin region in the first pickup imageand the second pickup image are relatively high values.

In addition, as described above, a combination such that the reflectancewhen a thing other than the skin of a human is irradiated with light ofthe wavelength λ1 is substantially the same as the reflectance when thething other than the skin of a human is irradiated with light of thewavelength λ2 is adopted as combination of the wavelengths λ1 and λ2.

Thus, the luminance values of pixels forming a region other than theskin region in the first pickup image are substantially the same as theluminance values of pixels forming the region other than the skin regionin the second pickup image. Therefore difference values between theluminance values of the pixels forming the region other than the skinregion in the first pickup image and the second pickup image arerelatively low values.

Hence, in the skin recognition system, for example, a regioncorresponding to relatively high difference values can be detected asskin region.

SUMMARY

In the above-described skin recognition system, the difference values inthe skin region in the first pickup image and the second pickup imagecan be substantially the same values as the difference values in thenon-skin region (region other than the skin region) due to noiseoccurring in the first pickup image and the second pickup image,variation in amount of irradiation light of each LED, and the like.

In this case, accuracy of detection of the skin region is greatlydecreased because the skin recognition system detects (determines)whether a region corresponding to difference values is a skin region ora non-skin region according to the magnitude of the difference values.

Accordingly, in order to prevent the accuracy of detection of the skinregion from being decreased, the difference values in the skin regionneed to be sufficiently higher than the difference values in thenon-skin region.

However, depending on a distance from the skin recognition system to thesubject, the difference values in the skin region cannot be madesufficiently higher than the difference values in the non-skin region insome cases, and a detectable range in which the skin region can bedetected with high accuracy may be limited.

Accordingly, it is conceivable that the detectable range may be extendedby increasing the gain of a camera for picking up images of the subjectso that the difference values in the skin region in the first pickupimage and the second pickup image are sufficiently higher than thedifference values in the non-skin region.

In addition, when the amount of irradiation light of each LED is lessthan an amount of irradiation light with which the skin region can bedetected with high accuracy, it is conceivable that the gain of thecamera may be increased to compensate for a shortage of the amount ofirradiation light of each LED, and that the skin region of the subjectmay then be detected.

However, when the gain is increased ignoring outside light such assunlight and light produced by lighting (an incandescent light or afluorescent light) and the like, saturation caused by a camera(overexposure or the like) occurs, so that the skin region cannot bedetected with high accuracy.

The present application has been made in view of such situations. It isdesirable to adjust the gain of a camera and the like according tooutside light such as sunlight and light produced by lighting and thelike, and detect a skin region with high accuracy.

According to an embodiment, there is provided an image processing devicefor detecting a skin region representing a skin of a subject from apickup image obtained by imaging the subject, the image processingdevice including: first irradiating means for irradiating the subjectwith light of a first wavelength; second irradiating means forirradiating the subject with light of a second wavelength different fromthe first wavelength; image pickup means for imaging the subject;adjusting means for adjusting a parameter of the image pickup meanswithin a range in which a skin detectable condition for detecting theskin region is satisfied on a basis of an outside light image obtainedby imaging the subject by the image pickup means in a state of thesubject not being irradiated with light of the first wavelength or lightof the second wavelength; and skin detecting means for detecting theskin region on a basis of a first pickup image obtained by imaging thesubject when the subject is irradiated with light of the firstwavelength by the image pickup means having the parameter adjusted bythe adjusting means and a second pickup image obtained by imaging thesubject when the subject is irradiated with light of the secondwavelength by the image pickup means having the parameter adjusted bythe adjusting means.

The adjusting means can adjust the parameter of the image pickup meanswithin a range in which the skin detectable condition that a luminancevalue of a pixel forming the outside light image be equal to or lowerthan half of a maximum luminance value that can be obtained by imagingof the image pickup means is satisfied.

The adjusting means can adjust the parameter of the image pickup meanswithin a range in which the skin detectable condition that the luminancevalue of the pixel forming the outside light image be half of themaximum luminance value that can be obtained by imaging of the imagepickup means is satisfied.

The adjusting means can adjust the parameter of the image pickup meanson a basis of an average value of luminance values of pixels forming theoutside light image.

The adjusting means can adjust the parameter of the image pickup meanson a basis of a luminance value of a maximum number of pixels amongluminance values of pixels forming the outside light image.

The adjusting means can adjust the parameter of the image pickup meanson a basis of a luminance value of a pixel when a luminance integrationcount obtained by performing integration starting with a pixel having alow luminance value becomes a predetermined value among luminance valuesof pixels forming the outside light image.

The adjusting means can adjust at least one of a gain of the imagepickup means, receiving sensitivity, and light reception time as theparameter of the image pickup means.

The first irradiating means and the second irradiating means can applyinfrared rays of respective different wavelengths.

One of the first irradiating means and the second irradiating means canapply light of a wavelength equal to or more than 930 [nm], and theother can apply light of less than 930 [nm].

According to an embodiment, there is provided an image processing methodof an image processing device for detecting a skin region representing askin of a subject from a pickup image obtained by imaging the subject,the image processing device including first irradiating means, secondirradiating means, image pickup means, adjusting means, and skindetecting means, the image processing method including the steps of: thefirst irradiating means irradiating the subject with light of a firstwavelength; the second irradiating means irradiating the subject withlight of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength; theimage pickup means imaging the subject; the adjusting means adjusting aparameter of the image pickup means within a range in which a skindetectable condition for detecting the skin region is satisfied on abasis of an outside light image obtained by imaging the subject by theimage pickup means in a state of the subject not being irradiated withlight of the first wavelength or light of the second wavelength; and theskin detecting means detecting the skin region on a basis of a firstpickup image obtained by imaging the subject when the subject isirradiated with light of the first wavelength by the image pickup meanshaving the parameter adjusted by the adjusting means and a second pickupimage obtained by imaging the subject when the subject is irradiatedwith light of the second wavelength by the image pickup means having theparameter adjusted by the adjusting means.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a program for making acomputer function as: adjusting means for adjusting a parameter of imagepickup means within a range in which a skin detectable condition fordetecting a skin region representing a skin of a subject is satisfied ona basis of an outside light image obtained by imaging the subject by theimage pickup means in a state of the subject not being irradiated withlight of a first wavelength or light of a second wavelength differentfrom the first wavelength; and skin detecting means for detecting theskin region on a basis of a first pickup image obtained by imaging thesubject when the subject is irradiated with light of the firstwavelength by the image pickup means having the parameter adjusted bythe adjusting means and a second pickup image obtained by imaging thesubject when the subject is irradiated with light of the secondwavelength by the image pickup means having the parameter adjusted bythe adjusting means.

According to an embodiment, there is provided an electronic deviceincluding an image processing device for detecting a skin regionrepresenting a skin of a subject from a pickup image obtained by imagingthe subject, wherein the image processing device includes: firstirradiating means for irradiating the subject with light of a firstwavelength; second irradiating means for irradiating the subject withlight of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength; imagepickup means for imaging the subject; adjusting means for adjusting aparameter of the image pickup means within a range in which a skindetectable condition for detecting the skin region is satisfied on abasis of an outside light image obtained by imaging the subject by theimage pickup means in a state of the subject not being irradiated withlight of the first wavelength or light of the second wavelength; andskin detecting means for detecting the skin region on a basis of a firstpickup image obtained by imaging the subject when the subject isirradiated with light of the first wavelength by the image pickup meanshaving the parameter adjusted by the adjusting means and a second pickupimage obtained by imaging the subject when the subject is irradiatedwith light of the second wavelength by the image pickup means having theparameter adjusted by the adjusting means.

According to an embodiment, a parameter of image pickup means isadjusted within a range in which a skin detectable condition fordetecting a skin region representing a skin of a subject is satisfied ona basis of an outside light image obtained by imaging the subject by theimage pickup means in a state of the subject not being irradiated withlight of a first wavelength or light of a second wavelength differentfrom the first wavelength, and the skin region is detected on a basis ofa first pickup image obtained by imaging the subject when the subject isirradiated with light of the first wavelength by the image pickup meanshaving the parameter adjusted and a second pickup image obtained byimaging the subject when the subject is irradiated with light of thesecond wavelength by the image pickup means having the parameteradjusted.

According to the present application, a gain of a camera and the likeare adjusted according to outside light such as sunlight and lightproduced by lighting and the like, and therefore a skin region can bedetected with high accuracy.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will beapparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of constitution of aninformation processing system to which the present application isapplied;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a spectral reflectioncharacteristic of the skin of a human;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of detailed constitution ofan image processing device;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a first example of a histogram of luminancevalues of pixels forming an outside light image;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of processes performed by acalculating section and a binarizing section;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of assistance in explaining an adjusting processperformed by the image processing device;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a second example of a histogram of luminancevalues of pixels forming an outside light image;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a third example of a histogram of luminancevalues of pixels forming an outside light image; and

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of configuration of acomputer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present application will be described below in detailwith reference to the drawings.

The mode for carrying out the application (which mode will hereinafterbe referred to as a present embodiment) will hereinafter be described.Incidentally, description will be made in the following order.

1. Present Embodiment (Example of Adjusting Gain of Camera on Basis ofAverage Luminance of Outside Light Image)

2. Examples of Modification

1. Present Embodiment

Example of Constitution of Information Processing System 1

FIG. 1 shows an example of constitution of an information processingsystem 1 according to the present embodiment.

The information processing system 1 performs a predetermined processaccording to a gesture (or a posture) using a hand of a user. Theinformation processing system 1 includes a light emitting device 21, acamera 22, and an image processing device 23.

In order to make the information processing system 1 perform apredetermined process, the user changes the shape of a hand of the userin front of a lens of the camera 22.

At this time, the information processing system 1 recognizes the shapeof the hand of the user, and performs the predetermined process inresponse to a result of the recognition.

Incidentally, suppose in the present embodiment that the user changesthe shape of a hand in front of the lens of the camera 22, and that theuser puts a hand of the user to a position closer to the lens of thecamera 22 than a face, a chest or the like of the user and makes agesture (posture).

The light emitting device 21 includes an LED 21 a 1 and an LED 21 a 2for applying (emitting) light of a wavelength λ1 (for example anear-infrared ray of 870 [nm]) and an LED 21 b 1 and an LED 21 b 2 forapplying light of a wavelength λ2 (for example a near-infrared ray of950 [nm]) different from the wavelength λ1.

Incidentally, in the following description, the LED 21 a 1 and the LED21 a 2 will be referred to simply as an LED 21 a when the LED 21 a 1 andthe LED 21 a 2 do not need to be distinguished from each other, and theLED 21 b 1 and the LED 21 b 2 will be referred to simply as an LED 21 bwhen the LED 21 b 1 and the LED 21 b 2 do not need to be distinguishedfrom each other.

The light emitting device 21 makes the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b emitlight alternately, for example, according to control from the imageprocessing device 23.

The LED 21 a and the LED 21 b emit light alternately, for example, suchthat corresponding pixels of pickup images obtained by image pickup ofthe camera 22 when a subject having a same reflectance at thewavelengths λ1 and λ2 (for example a mirror surface or the like with areflectance of 100%) is irradiated with light of the wavelength λ1 andirradiated with light of the wavelength λ2 have a same luminance value.

A combination of the wavelength λ1 of the LED 21 a and the wavelength λ2of the LED 21 b is for example a combination such that the reflectancewhen the skin of a human is irradiated with light of the wavelength λ1is higher than the reflectance when the skin of the human is irradiatedwith light of the wavelength λ2 and such that the reflectance when athing other than the skin of a human is irradiated with light of thewavelength λ1 is substantially the same as the reflectance when thething is irradiated with light of the wavelength λ2. That is, thiscombination is determined on the basis of a spectral reflectioncharacteristic of the skin of a human.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a spectral reflection characteristic of the skin of ahuman.

Incidentally, this spectral reflection characteristic is universalirrespective of differences in color between the skins of humans (racialdifferences), states (suntans), or the like.

In FIG. 2, an axis of abscissas indicates the wavelength of irradiationlight with which the skin of a human is irradiated, and an axis ofordinates indicates the reflectance of the irradiation light with whichthe skin of the human is irradiated.

It is known that the reflectance of irradiation light with which theskin of a human is irradiated peaks around 800 [nm], sharply decreasesfrom about 900 [nm], has a minimum value around 1000 [nm], and risesagain.

Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the reflectance ofreflected light obtained by irradiating the skin of a human with lightof 870 [nm] is 63%, and the reflectance of reflected light obtained byirradiating the skin of a human with light of 950 [nm] is 50%.

This is specific to the skin of a human. The reflectance of an object(for example hair, clothes or the like) other than the skin of a humanoften changes gently in a range of about 800 to 1000 [nm].

In the present embodiment, a combination in which the wavelength λ1 isset at 870 [nm] and the wavelength λ2 is set at 950 [nm], for example,is adopted as a combination of the wavelength λ1 and the wavelength λ2in the above-described spectral reflection characteristic. Thiscombination is such that a difference in reflectance corresponding tothe skin of a human is relatively large and such that a difference inreflectance corresponding to a part other than the skin of a human isrelatively small.

Returning to FIG. 1, the camera 22 receives reflected light of outsidelight with which a subject is irradiated and reflected light of lighthaving the wavelength λ1 with which light the subject is irradiated bythe LED 21 a . The camera 22 supplies a first pickup image obtained as aresult of the light reception to the image processing device 23.

In addition, the camera 22 receives the reflected light of the outsidelight with which the subject is irradiated and reflected light of lighthaving the wavelength λ2 with which light the subject is irradiated bythe LED 21 b . The camera 22 supplies a second pickup image obtained asa result of the light reception to the image processing device 23.

Further, the camera 22 receives the reflected light of the outside lightwith which the subject is irradiated, and supplies an outside lightimage obtained as a result of the light reception to the imageprocessing device 23.

The image processing device 23 controls the light emitting device 21 andthe camera 22. Specifically, the image processing device 23 performs anadjusting process of adjusting the gain of the camera 22 and amounts ofirradiation light of the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b in the light emittingdevice 21 on the basis of the outside light image and the like from thecamera 22. Incidentally, details of the adjusting process will bedescribed later with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 6.

In addition, the image processing device 23 calculates difference valuesbetween the luminance values of corresponding pixels in the first andsecond pickup images supplied from the camera 22, and detects a skinregion in the first pickup image (or the second pickup image) on thebasis of the calculated difference values.

Then, the image processing device 23 recognizes the shape of a hand of auser or the like on the basis of the detected skin region, and performsa predetermined process in response to a result of the recognition.

Example of Constitution of Image Processing Device 23

Next, FIG. 3 shows an example of constitution of the image processingdevice 23.

The image processing device 23 includes a controlling section 41, acalculating section 42, and a binarizing section 43.

The controlling section 41 controls the light emitting device 21 and thecamera 22 to make the camera 22 pick up an image of a subject in a stateof each of the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b being off, and make the camera22 supply an outside light image obtained by the image pickup to thecontrolling section 41.

The controlling section 41 generates a histogram of luminance values ofpixels forming the outside light image from the camera 22, and adjuststhe gain of the camera 22 on the basis of the generated histogram.

Specifically, for example, on the basis of the generated histogram, thecontrolling section 41 adjusts the gain of the camera 22 within a rangewhere a skin region can be detected with high accuracy even with noiseoccurring in the first and second pickup images, variations in theamounts of irradiation light of the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b , and thelike without the camera 22 being saturated (overexposure or the like).

Next, FIG. 4 shows an example of a histogram generated by thecontrolling section 41.

In FIG. 4, an axis of abscissas indicates luminance values, and an axisof ordinates indicates total numbers of pixels having the luminancevalues on the axis of abscissas in an outside light image. Incidentally,suppose that the camera 22 generates images represented by 28 (=256)gradations by image pickup. The axis of abscissas therefore indicatesvalues of 0 to 255 as luminance values.

The controlling section 41 generates a histogram as shown in FIG. 4 onthe basis of the outside light image from the camera 22, and calculatesa luminance average value indicating an average value of the luminancevalues of pixels forming the outside light image on the basis of thegenerated histogram.

Then, for example, on the basis of the calculated luminance averagevalue, the controlling section 41 adjusts the gain of the camera 22within a range where a skin region can be detected with high accuracy,or specifically within a range where the calculated luminance averagevalue is equal to or less than half of a maximum luminance value thatcan be obtained by image pickup of the camera 22, for example.

Preferably, the controlling section 41 adjusts the gain of the camera 22so that the calculated luminance average value becomes a luminance valuehalf the maximum luminance value that can be assumed in the outsidelight image.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, when the controllingsection 41 calculates a luminance average value of 165 (represented by athick vertical line in FIG. 4), the controlling section 41 adjusts thegain so that the luminance average value of 165 becomes a luminancevalue of 127 (represented by a thick dotted line in FIG. 4), which ishalf the maximum luminance value of 255 that can be obtained by imagepickup of the camera 22.

After adjusting the gain, the controlling section 41 controls the LED 21a and the LED 21 b of the light emitting device 21 to make the LED 21 aand the LED 21 b emit light alternately. In addition, the controllingsection 41 controls the camera 22 to make the camera 22 pick up an imageof a subject and supply a first pickup image and a second pickup imageobtained by the image pickup to the calculating section 42.

Further, the controlling section 41 controls the calculating section 42and the binarizing section 43 to make the calculating section 42 and thebinarizing section 43 detect a skin region on the basis of the firstpickup image and the second pickup image.

When the controlling section 41 obtains a detection result indicatingthat a skin region can be detected as a skin region detection resultfrom the binarizing section 43, the controlling section 41 adjusts theamounts of irradiation light of the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b to beminimum necessary amounts of irradiation light with which the skinregion can be detected with high accuracy, by decreasing the amounts ofirradiation light of the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b.

In addition, when the controlling section 41 obtains a detection resultindicating that the skin region cannot be detected as a skin regiondetection result from the binarizing section 43 because the detection ofthe skin region has been rendered impossible by excessively decreasingthe amounts of irradiation light of the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b , thecontrolling section 41 adjusts the gain of the camera 22 to be higherthan the present gain so that the skin region can be detected.

After adjusting the gain of the camera 22 and the amounts of irradiationlight of the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b , in order to perform a processbased on the skin region detection result, the controlling section 41controls the calculating section 42 and the binarizing section 43 tomake the calculating section 42 and the binarizing section 43 detect theskin region on the basis of the first pickup image and the second pickupimage.

The controlling section 41 then performs a process based on the skinregion detection result from the binarizing section 43. Specifically,for example, the controlling section 41 recognizes a gesture or aposture of the user on the basis of the detection result from thebinarizing section 43, and performs a process corresponding to therecognized gesture or the like.

The calculating section 42 smoothes the first pickup image and thesecond pickup image from the camera 22 using an LPF (low-pass filter).Then, the calculating section 42 calculates difference values betweenthe first pickup image and the second pickup image after being smoothed,and supplies a difference image formed by pixels having the calculateddifference values as pixel values to the binarizing section 43.

The binarizing section 43 binarizes the difference image from thecalculating section 42, detects a skin region in the first pickup image(or the second pickup image) on the basis of a binarized skin imageobtained as a result of the binarization, and supplies a result of thedetection to the controlling section 41.

Next, FIG. 5 shows details of the processes performed by the calculatingsection 42 and the binarizing section 43.

The calculating section 42 is supplied from the camera 22 with a firstpickup image 61 including a skin region 61 a and a non-skin region 61 b(region other than the skin region 61 a) and a second pickup image 62including a skin region 62 a and a non-skin region 62 b (region otherthan the skin region 62 a).

The calculating section 42 smoothes the first pickup image 61 and thesecond pickup image 62 supplied from the camera 22 using an LPF. Then,the calculating section 42 calculates difference values between theluminance values of corresponding pixels of the first pickup image 61after being smoothed and the second pickup image 62 after beingsmoothed, generates a difference image 63 having the difference valuesas pixel values, and supplies the difference image 63 to the binarizingsection 43.

The binarizing section 43 subjects the difference image 63 from thecalculating section 42 to binarization, which sets pixel values equal toor higher than a binarizing threshold value used for the binarizationamong the pixel values of the pixels forming the difference image 63 toone and which sets pixel values lower than the binarizing thresholdvalue among the pixel values of the pixels forming the difference image63 to zero.

Noise occurring in the first pickup image and the second pickup image,variations in the amounts of irradiation light of the LED 21 a and theLED 21 b , or the like needs to be prevented from causing the pixelvalues of pixels forming the skin region 63 a in the difference image 63and the pixel values of pixels forming the non-skin region 63 b in thedifference image 63 to be similar values, which renders accuratebinarization impossible.

Thus, the gain of the camera 22, the amounts of irradiation light of theLED 21 a and the LED 21 b , or the like is adjusted so that the pixelvalues of the pixels forming the skin region 63 a in the differenceimage 63 are equal to or higher than a skin detection enabling value(value sufficiently higher than the pixel values of the pixels formingthe non-skin region 63 b in the difference image 63) enabling thedetection of the skin region with high accuracy, that is, so that theskin region can be detected with high accuracy.

Because the skin region 63 a in the difference image 63 is formed bypixels having the difference values between the skin region 61 a and theskin region 62 a as pixel values, the pixel values of the pixels formingthe skin region 63 a are relatively high values.

Because the non-skin region 63 b in the difference image 63 is formed bypixels having the difference values between the non-skin region 61 b andthe non-skin region 62 b as pixel values, the pixel values of the pixelsforming the non-skin region 63 b are relatively low values.

Therefore the binarization performed by the binarizing section 43converts the difference image 63 into a binarized skin image 64including a skin region 64 a in which the pixel values of the pixelsforming the skin region 63 a are converted to one and a non-skin region64 b in which the pixel values of the pixels forming the non-skin region63 b are converted to zero.

The binarizing section 43 then supplies the skin region 64 a in thebinarized skin image 64 obtained by the binarization to the controllingsection 41 together with a detection result indicating that the skin ofthe subject can be detected.

Incidentally, when the skin region 64 a is not present in the binarizedskin image 64 obtained by the binarization, that is, when the skin ofthe subject cannot be detected, the binarizing section 43 supplies adetection result indicating that the skin of the subject cannot bedetected to the controlling section 41.

Details of Adjusting Process Performed by Image Processing Device 23

The adjusting process performed by the image processing device 23 willnext be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 6.

In step S1, the controlling section 41 controls the light emittingdevice 21 and the camera 22 to make the camera 22 pick up an image of asubject in a state of the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b of the lightemitting device 21 being off, and obtains an outside light imageobtained by the image pickup from the camera 22.

In step S2, for example, the controlling section 41 generates ahistogram on the basis of the outside light image from the camera 22,and calculates a luminance average value of luminance values of pixelsforming the outside light image on the basis of the generated histogram.

The controlling section 41 then adjusts the gain of the camera 22 on thebasis of the calculated luminance average value so that the calculatedluminance average value is equal to or lower than half the maximumluminance value that can be obtained by the image pickup of the camera22.

Preferably, the controlling section 41 adjusts the gain of the camera 22so that the calculated luminance average value is a luminance value halfthe maximum luminance value that can be obtained by the image pickup ofthe camera 22.

In step S3, the controlling section 41 controls the light emittingdevice 21 and the camera 22 to make the camera 22 pick up an image ofthe subject in a state of the LED 21 a of the LED 21 a and the LED 21 bbeing on and supply a first pickup image obtained by the image pickup tothe calculating section 42.

In addition, the controlling section 41 controls the light emittingdevice 21 and the camera 22 to make the camera 22 pick up an image ofthe subject in a state of the LED 21 b of the LED 21 a and the LED 21 bbeing on and supply a second pickup image obtained by the image pickupto the calculating section 42.

The calculating section 42 thereby obtains the first pickup image andthe second pickup image from the camera 22.

In step S4, the calculating section 42 and the binarizing section 43attempt to detect a skin region in the first pickup image (or the secondpickup image) on the basis of the first pickup image and the secondpickup image obtained by the image pickup of the camera 22.

Specifically, for example, the calculating section 42 smoothes the firstpickup image and the second pickup image from the camera 22 using anLPF. Then, the calculating section 42 calculates difference valuesbetween the first pickup image and the second pickup image after beingsmoothed, and supplies a difference image formed by pixels having thecalculated difference values as pixel values to the binarizing section43.

The binarizing section 43 binarizes the difference image from thecalculating section 42, and attempts to detect a skin region in thefirst pickup image (second pickup image) on the basis of a binarizedskin image obtained as a result of the binarization.

Then, the binarizing section 43 supplies a detection result indicatingwhether a skin region can be detected to the controlling section 41.

In step S5, the controlling section 41 determines whether a skin regioncan be detected on the basis of the detection result from the binarizingsection 43. When the controlling section 41 determines that a skinregion cannot be detected, the controlling section 41 advances theprocess to step S6.

In step S6, the controlling section 41 determines whether the gainadjusted in previous step S2 is a maximum gain to which adjustment canbe made. When the controlling section 41 determines that the gainadjusted in previous step S2 is not the maximum gain, the controllingsection 41 advances the process to step S7.

In step S7, the controlling section 41 controls the camera 22 to adjustthe gain of the camera 22 to be higher than the gain set at present. Theprocess then returns to step S3, where the calculating section 42obtains a new first pickup image and a new second pickup image obtainedby image pickup of the camera 22 after the gain is adjusted. A similarprocess is thereafter performed.

When the controlling section 41 determines in step S6 that the gainadjusted in previous step S2 is the maximum gain to which adjustment canbe made, the gain cannot be adjusted to be higher. Therefore thecontrolling section 41 advances the process to step S8.

In step S8, the controlling section 41 controls the light emittingdevice 21 to initialize the amounts of irradiation light of the LED 21 aand the LED 21 b to a predetermined value, and returns the process tostep S1 to repeat the adjusting process.

That is, when the process is advanced to step S8, it is considered thata skin region cannot be detected because the amounts of irradiationlight of the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b have been decreased too much instep S10 to be described later. Thus, the amounts of irradiation lightof the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b are initialized to a predeterminedvalue, and the adjusting process is repeated.

When the controlling section 41 determines in step S5 that a skin regioncan be detected on the basis of the detection result from the binarizingsection 43, on the other hand, the controlling section 41 advances theprocess to step S9. Incidentally, in this case, the binarizing section43 has supplied the generated binarized skin image and the differenceimage from the calculating section 42 to the controlling section 41together with the detection result indicating that a skin region can bedetected.

In step S9, the controlling section 41 determines whether the amounts ofirradiation light of the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b are a minimum amountof irradiation light necessary to detect a skin region on the basis ofthe binarized skin image and the difference image from the binarizingsection 43.

Specifically, for example, on the basis of the binarized skin image fromthe binarizing section 43, the controlling section 41 extracts a skinregion corresponding to a skin region (region formed by pixels having apixel value of one, for example) in the binarized skin image from thedifference image from the binarizing section 43.

Then, the controlling section 41 determines that the amounts ofirradiation light of the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b are the minimumnecessary amount of irradiation light when the pixel values of pixelsforming the extracted skin region in the difference image aresubstantially equal to a skin detection enabling value (a valuesufficiently higher than the pixel values of pixels forming a non-skinregion in the difference image from the calculating section 42). Whenthe pixel values of the pixels forming the extracted skin region in thedifference image are higher than the skin detection enabling value, thecontrolling section 41 determines that the amounts of irradiation lightof the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b are not the minimum necessary amount ofirradiation light.

Specifically, for example, the controlling section 41 determines thatthe amounts of irradiation light of the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b arethe minimum necessary amount of irradiation light when an average valueof the pixel values of the pixels forming the extracted skin region inthe difference image is substantially equal to the skin detectionenabling value. The controlling section 41 determines that the amountsof irradiation light of the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b are not theminimum necessary amount of irradiation light when the average value ofthe pixel values of the pixels forming the extracted skin region in thedifference image is higher than the skin detection enabling value.

When the controlling section 41 determines in step S9 that the amountsof irradiation light of the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b are not theminimum amount of irradiation light necessary to detect the skin region,the controlling section 41 advances the process to step S10.

In step S10, the controlling section 41 controls the light emittingdevice 21 to adjust the amounts of irradiation light of the LED 21 a andthe LED 21 b to be the minimum amount of irradiation light necessary todetect the skin region by decreasing the amounts of irradiation light ofthe LED 21 a and the LED 21 b .

That is, for example, the controlling section 41 adjusts the amounts ofirradiation light of the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b so that the luminancevalues of pixels forming the skin region in the first pickup image andthe second pickup image obtained by image pickup of the camera 22 areminimum necessary luminance values enabling the skin region to bedetected with high accuracy, that is, so that the average value of thepixel values of the pixels forming the skin region in the differenceimage is substantially equal to the skin detection enabling value.

After completing the process of step S10, the controlling section 41returns the process to step S3. In step S3, the calculating section 42obtains a first pickup image and a second pickup image obtained from thecamera 22 in response to the turning on of the LED 21 a and the LED 21 bwhose amounts of irradiation light have been adjusted. A similar processis thereafter performed.

Incidentally, the controlling section 41 ends the adjusting process whenthe controlling section 41 determines in step S9 that the amounts ofirradiation light of the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b are the minimumamount of irradiation light necessary to detect the skin region.

As described above, in the adjusting process, for example, thecontrolling section 41 adjusts the gain of the camera 22 so that aluminance average value of luminance values of pixels forming an outsidelight image is a luminance value half the maximum luminance value thatcan be obtained by the image pickup of the camera 22.

In this case, the controlling section 41 adjusts the gain of the camera22 to a maximum within a range where the skin region can be detectedwith high accuracy, or specifically within a range where the calculatedluminance average value is equal to or lower than half of the maximumluminance value that can be obtained by the image pickup of the camera22, for example. It is therefore possible to extend a detectable rangein which the skin region can be detected while maintaining accuracy ofdetection of the skin region.

In addition, in the adjusting process, the amounts of irradiation lightof the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b are decreased to the minimum amount ofirradiation light necessary to detect the skin region. It is thereforepossible to save power by reducing power necessary for the irradiationof the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b while maintaining the accuracy ofdetection of the skin region.

2. Examples of Modification

In the adjusting process of the present embodiment, the controllingsection 41 generates the luminance average value of an outside lightimage on the basis of the histogram of the outside light image from thecamera 22, and adjusts the gain of the camera 22 on the basis of thegenerated luminance average value. However, a method of adjusting thegain of the camera 22 is not limited to this.

Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the controlling section41 may adjust the gain of the camera 22 so that a peak value (172 inthis case) representing a luminance value when the number of pixels is amaximum in a histogram generated on the basis of an outside light imagefrom the camera 22 becomes equal to or lower than half of the maximumluminance value that can be obtained by the image pickup of the camera22.

Incidentally, when a luminance value of 255 is the peak value in thecase shown in FIG. 7, the controlling section 41 may calculate a peakvalue after excluding a part where the luminance value is 255(saturated), and adjust the gain of the camera 22 on the basis of thecalculated peak value.

In addition, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, the controlling section 41can adjust the gain of the camera 22 so that a luminance valuedetermined on the basis of a pixel integration count indicating thenumber of pixels obtained by sequential integration (addition) startingwith a pixel having a low luminance value becomes equal to or lower thanhalf of the maximum luminance value that can be obtained by the imagepickup of the camera 22 in a histogram generated on the basis of anoutside light image from the camera 22.

Specifically, for example, the controlling section 41 can adjust thegain of the camera 22 so that the luminance value (202 in the presentcase) of a pixel integrated when the pixel integration count is thenumber of pixels corresponding to 80% of a total number of pixels in thehistogram becomes equal to or lower than half of the maximum luminancevalue that can be obtained by the image pickup of the camera 22.

In the present embodiment, the controlling section 41 adjusts the gainof the camera 22 on the basis of the histogram of an outside lightimage. However, the controlling section 41 can be configured to adjustat least one of the gain of the camera 22, receiving sensitivity,exposure (light reception) time and the like.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the binarizing section 43binarizes the difference image 63 from the calculating section 42 as itis. However, the difference image 63 can be binarized after pixel valuesof pixels forming the difference image 63 are each normalized (divided)by the luminance value of a corresponding pixel of pixels forming thefirst pickup image 61. Incidentally, the binarizing section 43 maybinarize the difference image 63 after normalizing the difference image63 using the second pickup image 62 in place of the first pickup image61.

In the present embodiment, the first wavelength of light emitted by theLED 21 a is set at 870 [nm], and the second wavelength of light emittedby the LED 21 b is set at 950 [nm]. However, the combination of thewavelengths is not limited to this.

That is, the combination of the wavelengths may be any combination aslong as a difference value between the reflectance at the firstwavelength and the reflectance at the second wavelength is sufficientlyhigh as compared with a difference value between reflectances obtainedfor things other than the skin of a user.

Specifically, as is clear from FIG. 2, for example, the LED 21 a can beconfigured to apply irradiation light of the wavelength λ1 less than 930[nm], and the LED 21 b can be configured to apply irradiation light ofthe wavelength λ2 equal to or more than 930 [nm], as in not only thecombination of 870 [nm] and 950 [nm] but also a combination of 800 [nm]and 950 [nm], a combination of 870 [nm] and 1000 [nm], a combination of800 [nm] and 1000 [nm], or the like.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the light emitting device 21makes the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b emit light separately from eachother. However, the first pickup image and the second pickup image canbe obtained by making the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b emit lightsimultaneously.

Specifically, for example, in place of the camera 22, two cameras havingsimilar functions to those of the camera 22 are provided in proximity toeach other. A filter passing only light of the first wavelength isprovided to a front surface of one of the two cameras, and a filterpassing only light of the second wavelength is provided to a frontsurface of the other camera.

In this case, even when the LED 21 a and the LED 21 b are made to emitlight simultaneously, only the light of the first wavelength enters theone camera. Therefore the first pickup image can be obtained in the onecamera. In addition, only the light of the second wavelength enters theother camera. Therefore the second pickup image can be obtained in theother camera.

In the present embodiment, description has been made supposing that thenumber of LEDs 21 a and the number of LEDs 21 b are each two. However,the numbers of such LEDs are not limited to this.

In the present embodiment, description has been made of the informationprocessing system 1. The information processing system 1 can beincorporated into an electronic device such for example as a personalcomputer, and the personal computer can perform a process based on agesture or the like corresponding to a skin region detected by theinformation processing system 1.

The series of processes described above can be carried out not only bydedicated hardware but also by software. When the series of processes isto be carried out by software, a program constituting the software isinstalled from a recording medium onto a so-called embedded computer orfor example a general-purpose personal computer enabled to performvarious functions by installing various programs onto the personalcomputer.

Example of Configuration of Computer

Next, FIG. 9 shows an example of configuration of a personal computerthat performs the series of processes described above by a program.

A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201 performs various processes accordingto a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202 or a storage section208. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 203 stores the program being executedby the CPU 201, data, and the like as appropriate. The CPU 201, the ROM202, and the RAM 203 are interconnected via a bus 204.

The CPU 201 is also connected with an input-output interface 205 via thebus 204. The input-output interface 205 is connected with an inputsection 206 including a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone and the like andan output section 207 including a display, a speaker, and the like. TheCPU 201 performs various processes in response to a command input fromthe input section 206. The CPU 201 then outputs results of the processesto the output section 207.

The storage section 208 connected to the input-output interface 205 isformed by a hard disk, for example. The storage section 208 stores theprogram executed by the CPU 201 and various data. A communicatingsection 209 communicates with an external device via a network such asthe Internet, a local area network, and the like.

In addition, the program may be obtained via the communicating section209, and stored in the storage section 208.

When removable media 211 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, amagneto-optical disk, a semiconductor memory and the like are loadedinto a drive 210 connected to the input-output interface 205, the drive210 drives the removable media to obtain programs, data and the likestored on the removable media. The obtained programs and the obtaineddata are transferred to the storage section 208 and stored in thestorage section 208 as demanded.

As shown in FIG. 9, for example, the recording medium on which theprogram installed on the computer and set in a state of being executableby the computer is recorded (stored) is formed by the removable media211 as packaged media including a magnetic disk (including a flexibledisk), an optical disk (including CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory)and DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)), a magneto-optical disk (including MD(Mini-Disc)), a semiconductor memory and the like, or formed by the ROM202, the hard disk forming the storage section 208, or the like wherethe program is stored temporarily or permanently. The program isrecorded onto the recording medium as required using a wire or wirelesscommunication medium such as a local area network, the Internet, digitalsatellite broadcasting or the like via the communicating section 209 asan interface such as a router, a modem or the like.

It is to be noted that in the present specification, the stepsdescribing the series of processes described above include not onlyprocesses carried out in time series in the described order but alsoprocesses carried out in parallel or individually and not necessarily intime series.

In addition, in the present specification, a system refers to anapparatus as a whole formed by a plurality of devices.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope and without diminishing itsintended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes andmodifications be covered by the appended claims.

The application is claimed as follows:
 1. An image processing device fordetecting a skin region representing a skin of a subject from a pickupimage obtained by imaging said subject, the image processing devicecomprising: first irradiating means for irradiating said subject withlight of a first wavelength; second irradiating means for irradiatingsaid subject with light of a second wavelength different from said firstwavelength; image pickup means for imaging said subject; adjusting meansfor adjusting a parameter of said image pickup means within a range inwhich a skin detectable condition for detecting said skin region issatisfied on a basis of an outside light image obtained by imaging saidsubject by said image pickup means in a state of said subject not beingirradiated with light of said first wavelength or light of said secondwavelength; and skin detecting means for detecting said skin region on abasis of a first pickup image obtained by imaging said subject when saidsubject is irradiated with light of said first wavelength by said imagepickup means having the parameter adjusted by said adjusting means and asecond pickup image obtained by imaging said subject when said subjectis irradiated with light of said second wavelength by said image pickupmeans having the parameter adjusted by said adjusting means wherein saidadjusting means adjusts the parameter of said image pickup means withina range in which said skin detectable condition that a luminance valueof a pixel forming said outside light image be equal to or lower thanhalf of a maximum luminance value that can be obtained by imaging ofsaid image pickup means is satisfied.
 2. The image processing deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said adjusting means adjusts the parameterof said image pickup means within a range in which said skin detectablecondition that the luminance value of the pixel forming said outsidelight image be half of the maximum luminance value that can be obtainedby imaging of said image pickup means is satisfied.
 3. The imageprocessing device according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting meansadjusts the parameter of said image pickup means on a basis of anaverage value of luminance values of pixels forming said outside lightimage.
 4. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein saidadjusting means adjusts the parameter of said image pickup means on abasis of a luminance value of a maximum number of pixels among luminancevalues of pixels forming said outside light image.
 5. The imageprocessing device according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting meansadjusts the parameter of said image pickup means on a basis of aluminance value of a pixel when a luminance integration count obtainedby performing integration starting with a pixel having a low luminancevalue becomes a predetermined value among luminance values of pixelsforming said outside light image.
 6. The image processing deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said adjusting means adjusts at least oneof a gain of said image pickup means, receiving sensitivity, and lightreception time as the parameter of said image pickup means.
 7. The imageprocessing device according to claim 1, wherein said first irradiatingmeans and said second irradiating means apply infrared rays ofrespective different wavelengths.
 8. The image processing deviceaccording to claim 7, wherein one of said first irradiating means andsaid second irradiating means applies light of a wavelength equal to ormore than 930 nm, and the other applies light of less than 930 nm.
 9. Animage processing method of an image processing device for detecting askin region representing a skin of a subject from a pickup imageobtained by imaging said subject, the image processing device includingfirst irradiating means, second irradiating means, image pickup means,adjusting means, and skin detecting means, the image processing methodcomprising: said first irradiating means irradiating said subject withlight of a first wavelength; said second irradiating means irradiatingsaid subject with light of a second wavelength different from said firstwavelength; said image pickup means imaging said subject; said adjustingmeans adjusting a parameter of said image pickup means within a range inwhich a skin detectable condition for detecting said skin region issatisfied on a basis of an outside light image obtained by imaging saidsubject by said image pickup means in a state of said subject not beingirradiated with light of said first wavelength or light of said secondwavelength; and said skin detecting means detecting said skin region ona basis of a first pickup image obtained by imaging said subject whensaid subject is irradiated with light of said first wavelength by saidimage pickup means having the parameter adjusted by said adjusting meansand a second pickup image obtained by imaging said subject when saidsubject is irradiated with light of said second wavelength by said imagepickup means having the parameter adjusted by said adjusting means, saidadjusting means adjusting the parameter of said image pickup meanswithin a range in which said skin detectable condition that a luminancevalue of a pixel forming said outside light image be equal to or lowerthan half of a maximum luminance value that can be obtained by imagingof said image pickup means is satisfied.
 10. A non-transitory computerreadable medium including a program for making a computer function as:adjusting means for adjusting a parameter of image pickup means within arange in which a skin detectable condition for detecting a skin regionrepresenting a skin of a subject is satisfied on a basis of an outsidelight image obtained by imaging said subject by said image pickup meansin a state of said subject not being irradiated with light of a firstwavelength or light of a second wavelength different from said firstwavelength; and skin detecting means for detecting said skin region on abasis of a first pickup image obtained by imaging said subject when saidsubject is irradiated with light of said first wavelength by said imagepickup means having the parameter adjusted by said adjusting means and asecond pickup image obtained by imaging said subject when said subjectis irradiated with light of said second wavelength by said image pickupmeans having the parameter adjusted by said adjusting means wherein saidadjusting means adjusts the parameter of said image pickup means withina range in which said skin detectable condition that a luminance valueof a pixel forming said outside light image be equal to or lower thanhalf of a maximum luminance value that can be obtained by imaging ofsaid image pickup means is satisfied.
 11. An electronic device includingan image processing device for detecting a skin region representing askin of a subject from a pickup image obtained by imaging said subject,wherein said image processing device includes: first irradiating meansfor irradiating said subject with light of a first wavelength; secondirradiating means for irradiating said subject with light of a secondwavelength different from said first wavelength; image pickup means forimaging said subject; adjusting means for adjusting a parameter of saidimage pickup means within a range in which a skin detectable conditionfor detecting said skin region is satisfied on a basis of an outsidelight image obtained by imaging said subject by said image pickup meansin a state of said subject not being irradiated with light of said firstwavelength or light of said second wavelength; and skin detecting meansfor detecting said skin region on a basis of a first pickup imageobtained by imaging said subject when said subject is irradiated withlight of said first wavelength by said image pickup means having theparameter adjusted by said adjusting means and a second pickup imageobtained by imaging said subject when said subject is irradiated withlight of said second wavelength by said image pickup means having theparameter adjusted by said adjusting means, wherein said adjusting meansadjusts the parameter of said image pickup means within a range in whichsaid skin detectable condition that a luminance value of a pixel formingsaid outside light image be equal to or lower than half of a maximumluminance value that can be obtained by imaging of said image pickupmeans is satisfied.
 12. An image processing device for detecting a skinregion representing a skin of a subject from a pickup image obtained byimaging said subject, the image processing device comprising: a firstirradiating section configured to irradiate said subject with light of afirst wavelength; a second irradiating section configured to irradiatesaid subject with light of a second wavelength different from said firstwavelength; an image pickup section configured to image said subject; anadjusting section configured to adjust a parameter of said image pickupsection within a range in which a skin detectable condition fordetecting said skin region is satisfied on a basis of an outside lightimage obtained by imaging said subject by said image pickup section in astate of said subject not being irradiated with light of said firstwavelength or light of said second wavelength; and a skin detectingsection configured to detect said skin region on a basis of a firstpickup image obtained by imaging said subject when said subject isirradiated with light of said first wavelength by said image pickupsection having the parameter adjusted by said adjusting section and asecond pickup image obtained by imaging said subject when said subjectis irradiated with light of said second wavelength by said image pickupsection having the parameter adjusted by said adjusting section, whereinsaid adjusting section adjusts the parameter of said image pickup meanswithin a range in which said skin detectable condition that a luminancevalue of a pixel forming said outside light image be equal to or lowerthan half of a maximum luminance value that can be obtained by imagingof said image pickup means is satisfied.
 13. An image processing devicefor detecting a skin region representing a skin of a subject from apickup image obtained by imaging said subject, the image processingdevice comprising: first irradiating means for irradiating said subjectwith light of a first wavelength; second irradiating means forirradiating said subject with light of a second wavelength differentfrom said first wavelength; image pickup means for imaging said subject;adjusting means for adjusting a parameter of said image pickup meanswithin a range in which a skin detectable condition for detecting saidskin region is satisfied on a basis of an outside light image obtainedby imaging said subject by said image pickup means in a state of saidsubject not being irradiated with light of said first wavelength orlight of said second wavelength; and skin detecting means for detectingsaid skin region on a basis of a first pickup image obtained by imagingsaid subject when said subject is irradiated with light of said firstwavelength by said image pickup means having the parameter adjusted bysaid adjusting means and a second pickup image obtained by imaging saidsubject when said subject is irradiated with light of said secondwavelength by said image pickup means having the parameter adjusted bysaid adjusting means, wherein said adjusting means adjusts the parameterof said image pickup means on a basis of a luminance value of a pixelwhen a luminance integration count obtained by performing integrationstarting with a pixel having a low luminance value becomes apredetermined value among luminance values of pixels forming saidoutside light image.